Rack tower

Abstract

A tower device for securing a crossbar on a vehicle includes a base portion, a tower portion, and a pivotal cover member.

1. A rack system for carrying items on a car equipped with a pair of rails on the top of the car, comprising
 at least one pair of support devices configured for mounting one support device on each rail and securing a crossbar between the support devices,  
 each support device including a base portion configured for attachment to one of the rails, a tower portion having a holding mechanism for securing a portion of a crossbar, and a cover member that pivots between open and closed positions, wherein the cover member has a pivotal axis, the tower portion having one or more locking pins that extend in the direction of the pivotal axis when the cover member moves from the open to the closed position, and wherein pivoting of the cover member from the open position to the closed position causes locking engagement of the tower portion to the base portion.  
 
   
   
     2. The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a fastening mechanism for securing the base portion to the rail, the fastening mechanism being accessible when the cover member is in the open position, and inaccessible when the cover member is in the closed position. 
   
   
     3. The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the tower portion can pivot relative to the base portion to accommodate varying car top slopes and configurations. 
   
   
     4. The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion has one or more recesses, and wherein the locking pins move into engagement with the one or more recesses when the cover member moves from the open position to the closed position. 
   
   
     5. The rack of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a locking device connected to the tower portion for permitting a user to lock the cover member in the closed position.  
 
   
   
     6. The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the holding mechanism includes a clamp device and an adjustment mechanism for tightening and loosening the clamp device relative to a crossbar. 
   
   
     7. The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustment device is accessible when the cover member is open, and inaccessible when the cover member is closed. 
   
   
     8. The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustment device is operable via a threaded member oriented generally perpendicular to the crossbar. 
   
   
     9. The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustment device includes a threaded member impinging on a wedge member that contacts and clamps the crossbar when the threaded member is screwed into a hole in the tower portion. 
   
   
     10. A support device for securing a portion of a crossbar on the top of a car comprising
 a base portion having an attachment mechanism for attaching the base portion to a rail on the top of a car,  
 a tower portion having a holding mechanism for securing a portion of a crossbar, and a cover member that is moveable between open and closed positions,  
 the base portion having one or more recesses, the tower portion having one or more locking pins that move into engagement with the one or more recesses when the cover member moves from the open position to the closed position.  
 
   
   
     11. The device of  claim 10 , further comprising
 a locking device connected to the tower portion for permitting a user to lock the cover member in the closed position.  
 
   
   
     12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the cover member pivots around an axis causing extension or retraction of the one or more locking pins into or out of the recesses. 
   
   
     13. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the base portion has a fastening mechanism for securing the base portion to the rail, the fastening mechanism being accessible when the cover member is in the open position, and inaccessible when the cover member is in the closed position. 
   
   
     14. A support device for securing a portion of a crossbar on the top of a car comprising
 base portion having a length and a width, the length being longer than the width and a longitudinal axis extending parallel to the length, the base portion having a mechanism for attaching the base portion to a car,  
 a tower portion connected to the base portion, the tower portion having a clamp device configured for gripping a crossbar, and an adjustment mechanism for tightening and loosening the clamp device relative to the crossbar, the adjustment mechanism being operable via a threaded member oriented generally perpendicular to the crossbar and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base portion.  
 
   
   
     15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the tower portion has a cover member that pivots between open and closed positions, the adjustment device being accessible when the cover member is open in the open position and inaccessible when the cover member is in the closed position. 
   
   
     16. The device of  claim 15  further comprising
 a locking device connected to the tower portion for permitting a user to lock the cover member in the closed position.  
 
   
   
     17. A support device for securing a portion of a crossbar on the roof of a car comprising
 a base portion having a fastening mechanism for attaching the base portion to a car,  
 a tower portion connected to the base portion, the tower portion having a holding mechanism for securing a portion of a crossbar, the tower portion being pivotal relative to the base portion to accommodate varying roof configurations,  
 wherein the tower portion has a cover member that pivots between open and closed positions, the fastening mechanism being accessible when the cover member is in the open position, and inaccessible when the cover member is in the closed position.  
 
   
   
     18. A rack system for carrying items on a car equipped with a pair of rails on the top of the car, comprising
 at least one pair of support devices configured for mounting one support device on each rail and securing a crossbar between the support devices,  
 each support device including a base portion including a fastening mechanism for securing the base portion to the rail, a tower portion having a holding mechanism for securing a portion of a crossbar, and a cover member that pivots between open and closed positions, the fastening mechanism being accessible when the cover member is in the open position, and inaccessible when the cover member is in the closed position.  
 
   
   
     19. The rack system of  claim 18 , wherein pivoting of the cover member from the open position to the closed position causes locking engagement of the tower portion to the base portion. 
   
   
     20. A support device for securing a portion of a crossbar on the top of a car comprising
 a base member having an attachment mechanism for attaching the base member to a rail on the top of a car,  
 a tower portion having a holding mechanism for securing a portion of a crossbar, and a cover member that is moveable between open and closed positions, the attachment mechanism being accessible when the cover member is in the open position, and inaccessible when the cover member is in the closed position.  
 
   
   
     21. The support device of  claim 20 , wherein movement of the cover member causes locking engagement of the tower portion to the base member. 
   
   
     22. A rack system for carrying items on a car equipped with a pair of rails on the top of the car, comprising
 at least one pair of support devices configured for mounting one support device on each rail and securing a crossbar between the support devices,  
 each support device including a base portion configured for attachment to one of the rails, a tower portion having a holding mechanism for securing a portion of a crossbar, and a cover member that pivots between open and closed positions,  
 the cover member having a pivotal axis, one or more locking pins disposed parallel to the pivotal axis, and one or more recesses disposed parallel to the pivotal axis, and  
 wherein pivoting the cover member from the open position to the closed position causes locking engagement of the tower portion with the base portion by causing locking engagement of the locking pins with the recesses.